Sciencewise

25 June 2025

👋 We’ve had some new followers, welcome! In case you are wondering what we are all about 👇

6 Aug

AI could transform the guidance that shapes health and care – but the public need to trust how it’s used. That’s why, together with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), we’ve commissioned a public dialogue to explore how AI should be used in health and care guidance. 🔗 👇

sciencewise.org.ukPublic perspectives on AI in health and care guidance | SciencewiseThe National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Sciencewise have commissioned a public dialogue that will investigate public views on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in…

6 Aug

Up to 54 members of the public across England will take part, helping to inform NICE’s future policies and approaches to AI. 🔗 More here: sciencewise.org.uk/projects/pub...

How familiar something feels to people can make or break a public dialogue about it. That's the finding James Wickett-Whyte at Ipsos takes from our recent Citizens' Panels on climate adaptation, co-commissioned with the @thecccuk.bsky.social 🧵👇

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But unfamiliarity isn't a reason to avoid a topic. It's a signal telling you where the design work needs to start. James's blog explores how practitioners can bridge that gap — from grounding conversations in lived experience, to using futures techniques when no real-world examples yet exist. 🧵👇

sciencewise.org.ukThe Familiarity Principle: A Key Lesson for Public Dialogue | Sciencewise

🔗 sciencewise.org.uk/2026/07/the-...

🤔 When participants already understand a technology, conversations move quickly to priorities. When they don't, a "trust deficit" emerges. 🧵👇

Participants engaged most confidently with risks — like extreme weather — that they'd seen or experienced firsthand. When that direct experience is missing, people need something else to anchor to: case studies, testimonials, or real-world exemplars. 🧵👇

19 June

The full recording of our climate adaptation citizens' panel launch is now available 📽️ 30 people, representative of the UK, wrestling with real trade-offs on how the UK adapts to climate change — to inform @thecccuk.bsky.social official advice to government. 🧵👇

19 June

🙋 Panel members weren't just asked their opinions. They were given time to learn, question experts, and genuinely weigh up five climate impacts: overheating homes, flooding, nature, transport, and water & energy. 🧵👇

19 June

💡 At our launch event, speakers shared what participants told us about their awareness, concerns, priorities and the reasoning behind them — and how that evidence fed into the CCC's advice to government. The full recording is now available in our dialogue library 👇 🔗 bit.ly/4nErj2d

luma.comCitizens’ Panel on climate adaptation in the UK - Dialogue Report Launch · Zoom · LumaJoin us for the launch of a new dialogue report from the Climate Change Committee’s Citizens’ Panel on Climate Adaptation in the UK, supported by…

🚨 Tomorrow: our webinar on the citizens' panel that informed official UK climate adaptation advice. Hear from those involved in the public participation that helped shape @thecccuk.bsky.social's 'A Well-Adapted UK' report. 📆 Tomorrow, 2 June, 12:30pm 🔗

The recent heatwave is a timely backdrop to a new report, published today, on what the UK public thinks about solar radiation modification (SRM) — a group of methods to cool the Earth by reflecting a small portion of sunlight back into space. 🧵👇

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Participants expressed support for further SRM research – especially computer modelling – alongside clear concerns about deployment, and developed six principles they believe should guide SRM research. 🧵👇

bit.lySolar Radiation Management | Sciencewise

The findings provide information and evidence on public views for decision-makers, researchers and funders to consider alongside scientific and technical expertise. Read more👇 🔗 bit.ly/3RSvbAT

52 people took part in a UK-wide public dialogue co-commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Sciencewise, spending 17+ hours hearing from specialists on the benefits, risks and ethics of SRM research. 🧵👇

28 May

📢 Join us next week to hear from the people behind the citizens' panel that helped shape the Climate Change Committee's official climate adaptation advice. 📆 Tuesday 2 June, 12:30pm 🔗 Register: luma.com/wd4xq5mr

26 May

One week until our webinar on the citizens' panel that helped shape the CCC's official climate adaptation advice to government. Join us to hear more about what deliberative public engagement brought to the recent landmark 'A Well-Adapted UK' report. 📆 2 June, 12:30pm 🔗 luma.com/wd4xq5mr

21 May

📢 Hear from the people behind the citizens' panel at the heart of UK climate advice. Yesterday, @thecccuk.bsky.social published 'A Well-Adapted UK' — shaped in part by citizens deliberating on what climate adaptation should mean for people across the UK. 📆 2 June 🔗 luma.com/wd4xq5mr

21 Apr

What should research on UPFs focus on - and why? In a UK-wide public dialogue on UPFs commissioned by UKRI, participants shared why understanding the health impacts of UPFs was a key priority for them.

sciencewise.org.ukUltra-Processed Foods | SciencewiseUKRI has commissioned deliberative public dialogue exploring people’s views on ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

21 Apr

Participants’ contributions are already contributing to research and policy discussions - informing work across research institutes and government, including the UK Food Strategy and a £3.75 million Diet and Health Collaborative R&D programme. Read more 👇 🔗 sciencewise.org.uk/projects/ult...

17 Apr

🗣️ “Participants moved beyond headlines to engage deeply with the science, ethics and systemic drivers of our modern diet.” New on our blog, Professor Anne  Ferguson‑Smith reflects on the unique value of public dialogue in helping to shape future research. 🔗 sciencewise.org.uk/2026/04/what...

sciencewise.org.ukUltra-Processed Foods | SciencewiseUKRI has commissioned deliberative public dialogue exploring people’s views on ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

16 Apr

What should future research on ultra‑processed foods (UPFs) focus on? A UKRI public dialogue - supported by Sciencewise - brought together 100+ people from across the UK to explore what evidence and action is needed next 👇 🔗 sciencewise.org.uk/projects/ult...

UK Research and Innovation@ukri.org

We brought together over 100 people from across the UK to explore how ultra-processed food shapes everyday life - from convenience and cost, to health concerns and a lack of clear information. These conversations are helping to shape future UKRI research. Learn more: www.ukri.org/news/familie...

youtube.comMaking sense of ultra-processed foods: a public dialogueYouTube video by UK Research and Innovation

19 Nov 2025

We’re excited to announce that Sciencewise is tendering for a significant new public dialogue on Engineering Biology in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The invitation to tender is now live on the Crown Commercial Service Research & Insights framework.

Sciencewise reposted

Connected by Data

@connectedbydata.org

5 Nov 2025

🪧 The next Data & AI public engagement community of practice is on Wed 19 Nov 2pm (online). We will be joined by @sciencewise.bsky.social, Mohn Centre for Children's Health & Wellbeing @imperialmed.bsky.social; and Home Office Policy and Innovation Lab. Register at link in threaded post 👇

4 Nov 2025

⏳ There's still time to share your views! 🗣️ We’re inviting feedback to help deepen understanding of the impact of the Sciencewise programme — share your experience by completing our short evaluation survey, now closing on 14th November 2025. 👉 www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/IQN47X/

22 Oct 2025

🗣️ We’re inviting feedback to help deepen understanding of the impact of Sciencewise. 💡 Your insights will help us continue to build a shared evidence base of best practice in public dialogue and better understand the ways that Sciencewise makes a difference. 👉 sciencewise.org.uk/2025/10/why-...

27 Aug 2025

📰 Some more team news! ✨ We are delighted to welcome our new interim programme director, Katie Weeks to Sciencewise. Katie joins after nearly two decades in public engagement and science communication, and having previously led public engagement at the Royal Society. 🧵👇

sciencewise.org.ukQ&A with our new programme director, Katie Weeks! | SciencewiseWe are delighted to welcome our new programme director, Katie to Sciencewise.

27 Aug 2025

🗣️ We caught up with her to find out all about her motivation for joining Sciencewise. Read more below 👇 🔗 sciencewise.org.uk/2025/08/qa-w...

Sciencewise reposted

JUSTICE

@justicehq.bsky.social

24 July 2025

The public sees the potential of AI in policing, but they’re not handing over a blank cheque. @sciencewise.bsky.social and @ukhomeoffice.bsky.social new report provides key insights and recommendations to policymakers about the strengths and weaknesses of using AI in policing: bit.ly/3GZIn1S

bit.lyUnderstanding public attitudes towards the use of AI in policing | SciencewiseUnderstanding public attitudes towards the use of AI in policing Project Summary Debate around artificial intelligence (AI) has become more prominent and more polarised in recent years, and yet...

British Science Association

22 July 2025

New Sciencewise and @ukhomeoffice.bsky.social report published today: what does the public think about AI in policing? sciencewise.org.uk/2025/07/what...

Sciencewise reposted

@britsciassoc.bsky.social

21 July 2025

What is the role of public opinion in shaping engineering biology research and policy? Our @sciencewise.bsky.social roundtable brought together universities, private sector, funders, bioethics organisations, civil society, policymakers to discuss: www.britishscienceassociation.org/news/early-a...

britishscienceassociation.org‘Early and meaningful’ public involvement in shaping engineering biology research and policy vital for ethical futureEarlier this year, the British Science Association and Sciencewise hosted a roundtable on the role of public opinion in shaping engineering biology research and policy. A summary of the discussion bet...

Sciencewise reposted

DJBeddoes

@drdjb.bsky.social

21 June 2025

Superb end to the @sciencewise.bsky.social & @ukri.org dialogue on ultra processed foods. Newham participants, I salute you for a long, thoughtful and broad list of where @ukri.org needs to focus future food research funding. And a wonderful job from Hopkins Van Mil! Looking forward to the report.

26 June 2025

👀 Sharing some noteworthy projects from the last while 👇 🧵👇

26 June 2025

Want to work with us? 👇

24 June 2025

📰 Some news! ✨ We are delighted to welcome our new programme lead, Trupti Patel to Sciencewise. Trupti joins from Genomics England, and has previously lead research and policy at Race Equality Foundation and UCL. 🧵👇

sciencewise.org.ukQ&A with our new project lead, Trupti Patel! | SciencewiseWe are delighted to welcome our new project lead, Trupti to Sciencewise.

24 June 2025

🗣️ We caught up with her to find out all about her motivation for joining Sciencewise. Read more below 👇 🔗 sciencewise.org.uk/2025/06/qa-w...

sciencewise.org.ukWe’re recruiting for an interim Sciencewise Programme Director on a consultancy contract. | SciencewiseAbout Sciencewise Sciencewise is a programme developed and funded by UK government which engages the public on decision making and policy related to science, innovation and research. It is highl...

23 June 2025

🚨 Just 1 week left to apply! 🤔 Could you help shape the direction and increase the impact of the UK government's flagship public engagement programme on science and technology? 📆 Applications close Monday 30th June 🔗 sciencewise.org.uk/2025/06/were...

UK Research and Innovation

16 June 2025

🗣️ Could you play a key part in ensuring #research and #policy on #science and #technology is informed by the views, concerns and aspirations of the public? Find out more and apply 👇 📆 Closing Mon 30th June 🔗 sciencewise.org.uk/2025/06/were...

Sciencewise reposted

Smart Data Research UK

@sdruk.bsky.social

29 May 2025

We recently published our first Public Dialogue with @sciencewise.bsky.social. You can read the report and its key findings by visiting our website: www.sdruk.ukri.org/our-work/the.... 🎬There's also a short video featuring some of the 72 members of the public who participated.

Sciencewise reposted

@ukri.org

29 May 2025

🚨Calling all UK-based researchers (of any discipline) and public engagement professionals! Help us better understand the factors affecting public engagement by taking part in The Royal Society's survey👇 www.research.net/r/RS_public_...

Sciencewise reposted

Jeff Yau 姚明穎

@jeffmyau.bsky.social

29 May 2025

Scientists need to adapt to a changed world. We must learn to communicate with the public. Our *Institutions* should prioritize and reward public engagement efforts. @bcmhouston.bsky.social

Jennifer Groh@jmgrohneuro.bsky.social

Thoughtful piece advocating for more public engagement from scientists: explaining our work to a more general audience should be an expected part of our job. Heartily agree. By Corey Miller and Michael Platt: knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/how-...

knowledge.wharton.upenn.eduHow Science Can Fix Its Trust ProblemAmericans’ confidence in science has slipped to its lowest point in almost half a century, write neuroscientists Michael Platt and Cory Miller.

21 May 2025

Delighted to announce a new partnership to explore the views of the public on the ‘14 day rule’ for human embryo research ⬇️

Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB)@nuffieldbioethics.bsky.social

We are pleased to announce a partnership with @sciencewise.bsky.social on a public dialogue exploring views on the '14-day rule' for human embryo research. The dialogue will provide policymakers with much-needed insights on this underexplored topic. ➡️ bit.ly/44MeuM7

20 May 2025

📢 Help shape the future of science & tech policy in the UK! 🔍 We’re entering an ambitious new phase and seeking an Independent Evaluator to help us measure and maximise our impact! 💷 £45K budget (inc. VAT) 📆 July 25 – Nov 27 ⏳ Apply by 4th June 2025 Read more 👇 sciencewise.org.uk/2025/04/tend...

Sciencewise reposted

Smart Data Research UK

@sdruk.bsky.social

14 May 2025

Marking the publication of our Public Dialogue 2025 report with an expert panel and the voices of the public #DigitalFootprints2025